UK's rudest chalk figure gets a glow-up to stop it fading in the rain

The Cerne Abbas Giant, a 55-metre chalk figure of a naked man wielding a club carved into a hillside near Cerne Abbas village in Dorset, is undergoing a significant restoration to combat fading caused by changing weather patterns. Managed by the National Trust since 1920, the iconic figure has been dulled by heavier winter rains washing away chalk and damp conditions encouraging algae growth, making its outline less distinct. To restore its crisp whiteness, around 300 National Trust staff and volunteers are carrying approximately 17 tonnes of fresh chalk up the steep slope in a physically demanding process expected to take up to 15 days. The National Trust notes that wetter winters and drier summers are contributing to the erosion of the chalk edges, as slower grass growth leaves the figure more exposed. While the Trust is cautious about directly linking these changes to climate change at a single site, observations align with broader climate trends. The UK’s climate has shifted notably in recent decades, with warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers becoming more common. The Met Office recently warned there is an almost 90% chance of a new global temperature record within the next five years, underscoring the accelerating impact of climate change. Historically, the Giant’s outline has been maintained roughly every decade, but the increased weather variability means more frequent upkeep may be necessary to preserve this unique cultural landmark. The restoration involves carefully removing old chalk before packing fresh material into the figure’s outline, a task made more challenging by the steep hillside gradient and recent exceptional heat. Volunteers also use sheep to keep the surrounding grass trimmed, helping to maintain the figure’s visibility between chalking efforts. The Cerne Abbas Giant remains one of the UK’s most recognizable historic landmarks, and its preservation highlights the ongoing challenges posed by environmental changes to cultural heritage sites. The National Trust’s efforts ensure that this ancient figure continues to be a prominent feature of the Dorset landscape despite evolving climate conditions.